Tentative deal reached to end correction officers strike
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A tentative agreement has been reached to end the statewide correction officers strike, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.
The tentative agreement involving New York State, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) came on Thursday night — the 11th day of the correction officers strike.
“My top priority is the safety of all New Yorkers, and for the past 11 days, I have deployed every possible State resource to protect the well-being of correction officers, the incarcerated population and local communities across New York,” Hochul said in a statement. “Working with a mediator, we have reached a consent award to address many of the concerns raised by correction officers, put DOCCS back on the path to safe operations, respect the rights of incarcerated individuals and prevent future unsanctioned work stoppages. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for the correction officers, civilian DOCCS employees, National Guard personnel and other staff who have done their absolute best to maintain order in our correctional facilities during this challenging period.”
The strike began on Feb. 17. Correction officers were striking due to working conditions and were hoping for a series of changes, including limits to overtime and a reversal of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act. DOCCS, in response, characterized the strikes as “illegal and unlawful.” The strike began days after an incident at Collins Correction Facility resulted in a lockdown.
According to a press release from independent mediator Martin Scheinman — who was brought in on Monday to help facilitate a deal — the HALT Act will remain suspended for 90 days “due to the ongoing emergency and exigent circumstances that exist within each facility.” After 30 days, the DOCCS Commissioner will go from facility to facility to “evaluate the operations, safety, and security of our facilities relative to staffing levels and determine whether re-instituting the suspended elements of HALT would create an unreasonable risk to the safety and security of the incarcerated individuals and staff.”
NYSCOBA said in a statement Friday morning that “the deadline to return to work without any departmental discipline” is on Saturday for the officers’ scheduled shifts.
The pending deal also includes several changes to overtime rules; the “joint goal is to minimize and work towards eliminating anyone working 24-hour mandatory overtime.” If a correction officer works a mandated 24-hour shift, it will cause “an immediate review of the reasons that triggered the requirement.” If an employee works an overtime shift after already working two voluntary overtime shifts in one week, the employer will pay a $750 penalty.
As part of the tentative deal, employees who participated in the strike will not receive discipline from DOCCS — but this does not include any potential Taylor Law fines.
The strikes stretched across the state with 38 of New York’s 42 correctional facilities affected, including Collins Correctional Facility, Wende Correctional Facility, Attica Correctional Facility and Lake View Correctional Facility in Western New York.
The union has not supported the strike, which means each individual correction officer will have to decide to accept or decline the terms of this tentative deal. If an officer chooses not to accept the deal, that officer is not required to end the strike.
“The decisions to return to work is not a collective vote by members of NYSCOPBA. It will be up to each individual who currently is refusing to work to decide whether to return to work or risk termination, potential fines and possible arrest for violating the court order,” NYSCOPBA said.
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Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12.
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